Helping the poor is goal of charity

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Chris Grindley, from Kits4Causes, and Worcester City director Mike Davis are urging fans to donate their unwanted football kit. 0413010MMR.

A DROITWICH man who is using the beautiful game to bring hope to some of the world’s most disadvantaged children has urged football fans to donate their unwanted kit.

Chris Grindley, who runs the charity Kits4Causes, hopes football fans will donate everything from shirts, shorts and socks to training gear, bibs, cones and balls.

Since 2009 Kits4Causes has collected 16,000 football shirts which have been used to support charities working with poor and disadvantaged youngsters across the globe.

The Thames Drive resident has even enlisted the help of the Sunday league football team he manages in Droitwich, Pillar of Salt Korono, who will donate their away kit at the end of the season.

“We came up with the idea at the start of the campaign and the white shirts will be donated, probably to a project in Uganda, at the end of the season,” Chris told The Standard.

As well as kindly donating the shirts off their backs, Korono are going to be fund-raising for Kits4Causes throughout the year.

Footy fans can follow the progress of the shirts in a blog on the charity’s website. Log on to www.kits4causes.org for more

information.

Chris hopes Worcester City FC supporters will help the cause net a bumper load of football shirts and other kit when it holds a collection at the club’s next two home games tomorrow (Saturday) and on February 2. Fans can donate any items by leaving

them in a giant container outside the club shop at St George’s Lane during each matchday.

“The shirts are used in a huge variety of ways including encouraging children to stay in school, or to get kids to agree to be tested for HIV and Aids,” Chris added

A bucket collection will also be taken during the February 2 game, with the proceeds being split between Kits4Causes and Worcester City FC.

E-mail info@kits4causes.org for more information on how to make a donation.